Afghan demonstrators throw stones at a U.S military vehicle during a demonstration in Kabul, May 29 (epa)
May 31, 2006 -- U.S. President George W. Bush today promised his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, that there will be a thorough probe of an accident involving a U.S. military truck that killed at least five people in Kabul.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush expressed his sympathy for those killed.

The truck accident on May 29 sparked riots in the Afghan capital, in which at least eight people were killed and 120 injured.

The U.S. military today said its initial investigation shows that U.S. troops, confronted by hostile rioters after the truck crash, opened fire in self-defense.

Authorities have arrested scores of people suspected of involvement in the riots. They are also investigating whether political groups encouraged the violence.